Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson feels the Gunners are lacking creativity in midfield after failing to create many clear cut chances in the 1-0 defeat to Sheffield United on Monday night.

Granit Xhaka, Matteo Guendouzi and Joe Willock started the match in the middle of the park before Dani Ceballos came on for the second half, but the Sky Sports pundit was left unimpressed by their performances:

“There’s nobody in that midfield who can open up a can. No matter how bad Arsenal are, everybody will come and sit 10 behind the ball against Arsenal, bar a couple of the big boys.”

“Therefore you need special players in midfield to open things up. They haven’t got that pass, that eye-of-the-needle pass.”

Arsenal have scored just 13 goals in nine Premier League games this season. According to Wyscout, their xG (10.60) is even lower than that, which is the thirteenth best in the Premier League.

The statistic shows the lack of creativity currently within the Gunners team, and whether that can be addressed by keeping faith with the current midfield options, it remains to be seen.

Some fans and pundits have been calling on Emery to bring back Mesut Ozil into his first-team plans to help provide a greater attacking threat, but that doesn’t look likely at the moment.